Lorain police keep heat on gang members

Although it’s only been two weeks since police started sweeping gang members off the streets, several people in the city are seeing a change in the city. “I think we noticed the difference,” Lt. Mark Carpentiere said. “There’s been no shootings or any other gang related violence. It’s been quiet as far as that’s concerned.” Police have in custody 18 of the 22 targeted members of a gang called MOB for Member of Bloods or Money over Bitches. Police Chief Cel Rivera said there has been a palpable lack of violence since the first round of arrests on May 4 got 11 men and a 16-year-old boy who are suspected gang members and would like to see it stay that way. Police believe the gang is responsible for nine of the last 12 murders in the city in the past four years and a slew of other violent crimes including home invasions, shootings, intimidation and drug trafficking. Rivera has received several letters and comments from people thanking police for this operation. He said officers have also said they feel that it’s been safer on the streets for them. Ward 4 Councilman Bret Schuster praises the Lorain Police Department for keeping the city safe. “I can’t say enough about the effort put forth by all the members of the police department who were involved in making the arrests. They haven’t completed the job yet, but it’s going to have a big impact on the city of Lorain,” he said. He added that several constituents have expressed that they are pleased with the work the police has done. The seven-month operation began when police turned to the Northern Ohio Violent Crime Consortium to learn about new techniques to fight crime. NOVCC introduced them to new software, Analyst’s Notebook, which the Lorain Police Department purchased for the operation. Police enter data names and dates into a computer. The program identifies relationships, where the violent crimes were taking place, who was arrested and who was accused. The names that popped up as the most active criminals were among the 22 that were targeted.